Madhya Pradesh’s child rights panel has called for a ban on the sale and advertising of unhealthy foods within 50 metres of schools and colleges, joining a nationwide effort to improve campus health standards and combat diet-related health issues among children.
Madhya Pradesh’s child rights panel has urged the state to bar the sale and advertising of high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar and ultra-processed foods in schools, colleges, hostels and within 50 metres of educational institutions, joining a broader push across India to make campuses healthier for children. According to the Free Press Journal, the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has written to school education minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh pressing for the move.
Commission chairperson Nivedita Sharma said in the letter that changing eating habits among children had become a serious concern, with packaged foods, sugary drinks, fried snacks and other heavily processed items increasingly shaping daily diets. The commission wants clear standards for what may be sold in campus canteens, cafeterias and food outlets, alongside a list of healthier items that can be offered instead.
It has also called for a joint action plan involving the health, school education, women and child development, food safety, urban administration, and panchayat and rural development departments. The aim, Sharma said, is to limit easy access to foods that can harm children’s health and development, while helping schools steer pupils towards more nutritious options.
The proposal follows similar action elsewhere. Maharashtra’s food safety authorities have already moved to prohibit junk food sales and advertising inside schools and within a 50-metre radius, with the rule covering foods high in fat, trans fat, sugar and salt. Punjab and Odisha have also taken steps against junk food in or around schools, reflecting growing concern among regulators that poor diets are contributing to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other long-term health problems in children.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
